"Unacceptable’ territorial waters demand by Greece"
Defence Minister Hulusi Akar attends a symposium on the Aegean Sea and Turkish-Greek relations.
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Turkey and Greece have a variety of disputes, including the continental shelf, territorial waters, airspace, violations of the non-militarized status of islands in the region, provocative actions, as well as issues triggered by irregular migration and the European border agency Frontex.
He said Turkey is working hard to resolve these conflicts in line with international law, logic, and good neighborly relations, while the Greek side remained persistent in its aggressive attitude and acts.
Akar said Greece sought to expand its territorial waters to 12 miles unilaterally, which would translate into its domination over the Aegean as only one-fifth of the region would be open sea and two-thirds of it would become territorial waters of Athens.
This would make it almost impossible for the Turkish navy to cross into the Mediterranean through international waters, while third countries would also need Greece’s permission while crossing the Aegean Sea.
“There is no way Turkey would agree to this,” he added.
Akar added that the refugee crisis was a common problem of all countries with the EU in particular, and that the Greek attitude towards refugees made NATO’s work more challenging, adding that violations of basic human rights, inhumane detentions, and violations as well as forced pushbacks into Turkish regions by Greek authorities are unacceptable.
Turkey and human rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.
A recent report by Amnesty International, Greece: Violence, lies and pushbacks, documented “how the Greek authorities are conducting illegal pushbacks at land and sea.”
Pushbacks are considered contrary to international refugee protection agreements.
